Expand Access to Justice Through Places of Worship

July 14, 2017

Source: Hamilton County Herald

Legal Aid of East Tennessee, Tennessee Faith and Justice Alliance, the Christian Legal Society and the Chattanooga Gospel Justice Initiative are working together on a new effort to expand access to justice in Chattanooga through places of worship.

The Tennessee Supreme Court formed the Access to Justice Commission in 2009 to expand access to justice across the state. An estimated 1 million Tennesseans face some type of civil legal issue each year and are unable to afford legal representation.

The Access to Justice Commission created the Tennessee Faith and Justice Alliance on the premise that many individuals with legal issues will first seek assistance at their houses of worship.

Left to right: Nancy Cogar of the Christian Legal Society and Gospel Justice Initiative, Paige Evatt of Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands, and Pastor Amy Nutt of White Oak United Methodist Church.